A mountain range surrounded the valley with one way in through a single pass between the mountain. The path was as wide as a four-lane highway. The Bitter Fang clan erected a barricade of logs with a spiked moat. A bamboo draw bridge was the only way across the moat. It was elegantly built. I stood admiring their handy work.

But I soon diverted my attention to the small army on the other side of the barrier. Thirty men stood armed to the teeth. They were a mostly crew with no uniformity to them at all. If I had to guess, they were probably bandits.

A man on a dragon? "What is that man riding?"

"That's a Drake. They're smaller than their cousins the wyvern and Dragon." said the Commander of the fort a man by the name of Bei Lang.

He wasn't kidding. The drake looked like a celestial dragon, but much smaller. It was the size of a horse and was saddled and bridled like one. "Is it common to ride them like that?"

He nodded his head. "The Dragon Emperor's cavalry prefers them to horses. Breeding and riding drakes instead of horses have become very popular."

"Huh." It looked cool. I mean, the guy was riding a miniature dragon. I'm sure it looked far more impressive than riding a horse.

"I am Daiyu Dong. I am Chief of the Gold Valley bandits. Now that the Unholy Razorbacks are no more hand over your Spirit stone and your prettiest women and the rest of you may live."

I looked at Bei Lang. "Is he serious?"

He nodded. "It would appear so."

"I don't get it. Clearly, they couldn't kill the Razorback. He knows the Razorbacks are dead. Shouldn't he be more afraid of meeting the one who killed them?"

Bei Lang shrugged. "One would think."

I sighed. I didn't see any ranged weapons, so I was thinking they didn't have any. That made this easy. I ordered them to lower the drawbridge. When the bridge was lowered, I stood in the center of the bridge.

"I am Alastair Ivory. I'm the one that slew the Razorbacks. Leave now and you can live." I told the man on the drake.

He eyed me up and down, then laughed. His men quickly laughed with him. "You? Hah, they must not have been so mighty if a puny weasel could kill them. I'll take your head and fuck your women." He drew a massive great sword and let loose a loud battle cry.

Before he could charge, I put an arrow right between his beady little eyes. His battle cry ended abruptly. His body swayed in the saddle for a moment before toppling to the ground. The drake turned its long neck to look down at the corpse lying beside it. A low hiss emanated from its throat before it pounced on the dead bandit chief. In seconds, it devoured the corpse, leaving nothing but a bloody stain on the ground.

The pandits were silent. Their faces wore masks of horror. The drake turned its attention to me. I wasn't sure if I would have to fight it or not. I kept my muscles loose and ready if I needed to fight, but otherwise, I didn't move. Smoke billowed from its nostrils, but it didn't attack. It slowly stocked towards me. Its amber eyes seemed to peer into my soul. It came to some decision, for in the next instance it blew smoke out its nose at me. The smoke was white and seemed to wash over me.

I coughed once, but other than that was fine. The drake then lowered its head to me in a clear sign of supplication. I reached out and rubbed the spot between its massive horns. A purring-like noise rumbled from deep within its chest. I couldn't tell if it was a male or female. I'd ask about that later. For the moment, I was just glad it wasn't trying to eat me.

"It seems she's chosen you as her new master." Bei Lang said from behind me.

"So they choose their owners?" I asked him.

"No. Their owners can purchase and ride them. Their masters are the people they choose. She'll never betray you. She'll fight and die with you. You'll find nothing or anyone more loyal to you than her."

I smiled and scratched behind her ears. Her amber eyes rolled into the back of her head in pleasure. "I'm honored you chose me." I cooed. I mounted the drake and turned us around to face the bandits. "You can stay and die or you can leave and live. It's your choice."

The cowards turned and ran for their lives. They pushed, scurried, and trampled each other to get as far away as they could.

With a snort of derision, I turned my new steed around and rode her back to my house. Since I didn't really have a stable to put her in, I let her roam about in the garden. She found a spot under one of my mother's magnolia trees and curled up to take a nap. After I had removed her saddle and bridle, of course.

I was sitting on the bench next to the pond when princess Jiao sat next to me. "The last time we spoke, you told me you planned to propose a political marriage."

I nodded, "I did. And if things hadn't gone so well at the summit, I would have proposed it to the Bitter Fang for sure. But since things went so well, I saw no reason to marry you off. I was never a fan of arranged marriages, anyway."

"So then I'm free to marry whom I choose?" She asked me.

I nodded my head. "You always were. But I thank you for agreeing to let me choose your husband."

She chuckled. "You're still so strange, Alastair. I came to congratulate you on acquiring a drake. While owning Drakes is becoming very popular, they choose few as masters."

"I guess I'm just special that way." I winked at her.

"Have you chosen a name?"

I shook my head. "No. I want it to be something special."

"How about Lian?" Jiao suggested.

"Lian," I called the drake. She lifted her head and looked at me. "Your name is Lian." Lian rose and walked over to me. She laid her head on my lap and let out a stream of smoke from her nostrils before falling asleep. I lovingly stroked her head.

"You charm men, women, and even lesser dragons. Is there nothing you can't do?"

I snorted. "Plenty. But being charming is not one of them."

"A little bird told me you've taken Min Bajie as your woman."

"That was quick. Did one girl from Bamboo Forest sprout wings and fly all over the valley?" I asked her.

Jiao laughed and shook her head. "Close. She sent an echo bird. They're small and very inelegant. They can repeat messages. One of Chu's former concubines sent word that Min Bajie was now Min Bajie Ivory and that you gave the Bamboo Forest their first marriage ceremony. Echo birds have been flying all day. You've become a very popular man. Many young women hope to be your wives or concubines." She informed me. "I have to admit to some jealousy. I thought since you did not wed me off, you would take me as your first wife."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm sorry. A princess would have wanted to marry a king or a prince in my world.

She rolled her eyes at me. "You're a hero sent to us by one of the Primal goddesses. You're a better prospect than some mere king or prince."

"Look, I won't pretend that having a bunch of women interested in me isn't flattering. It's every man's fantasy. However, I've only ever been with one woman at a time. Give me a little time to get used to the concept of being with multiple women." I took her hand in mine. "I'm not saying no. Just not yet."

She squeezed my hand and nodded. "Don't keep me waiting too long."

I squeezed her hand back. "It's bad manners to keep a woman waiting too long. As you know, I have excellent manners."

She laughed and rolled her eyes at me again. She planted a quick kiss on my cheek and hurried away, giggling like a schoolgirl. Oh, how I wanted to turn those giggles into moans. But I had just gotten married. It wouldn't feel right if I immediately took on another wife after marrying Min. I'm sure that was the norm here, but I didn't want Min to think she was a commodity."

Sin Lian was still sleeping peacefully with her head on my lap I continued to sit in the garden. That was when a little blue bird with white stripes running down its back landed on one of Lians' horns.

"Venerable Master Ivory." The little bird said. "You are summoned to appear before King Deming Fai on the tenth of next month. We look forward to your arrival."

The little bird flew off. Now I was being summoned by a king. Was it too much to ask for some time to enjoy life with my new wife? Make some money, maybe build some addons to the house. Like a proper stable for Lian and some extra rooms for guests or maybe children. No. Instead, I was going to have to find out who this Deming Fai character was, why he wanted to see me, and if I was going to have to kill a king.